Close to 200,000 residents in western Japan were advised to evacuate on Saturday as authorities issued warnings about potential landslides and flooding driven by remnants of Tropical Storm Kong-rey. The Japan Meteorological Agency reported that warm, moist air in combination with the weakened storm system was causing intense rainfall and thunderstorms, especially affecting the western part of the country.
The city of Matsuyama issued its highest-level warning, urging approximately 189,552 residents across 10 districts to evacuate and prioritize safety. While the evacuation remains voluntary, Japan’s top warning level is typically reserved for situations where severe weather-related incidents are imminent or ongoing.
The heavy rain has already caused temporary suspensions of shinkansen bullet trains between Tokyo and Fukuoka, though service resumed with delays.
The storm’s effects come days after Kong-rey made landfall in Taiwan as a powerful typhoon, resulting in at least two fatalities and widespread power outages. Scientists warn that human-induced climate change is intensifying the risk of extreme rainfall events, as a warmer atmosphere can retain more moisture, leading to heavier downpours.
Residents in western Japan are expected to remain on alert through the weekend, with forecasts predicting potential flooding and landslides in the region Saturday and extending to eastern Japan by Sunday.
